Brake cooling for centrifugals and the like



Oct; 19, 1937. :ROBERTS 2,096,341

BRAKE COOLING FOR CENTRIFUGALS AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 50. 1934 17121621502 1% uf w W 11. @Ziorm g Patented Oct. 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BRAKE COOLING FOR. CENTBIFUGALS AND 'rm: LIKE I or setting of the braking elements and is intended to provide an improved liquid cooled brake construction and, as an additional feature, an automatic control for the liquid so that during the normal operation of the machine the heat developed by friction may be rapidly conducted away, while the supply of cooling medium may be cut off as the machine slows down and stops in order to avoid spilling of the'liquid.

In certain classes of machines, particularly machines of the type of sugar centrifugals whose cycle of operations, through the development of improvements in recent years, has been cut down to a period of only two or three minutes, the frequent starting and stopping of these heavy machines results in excessive heating of the brake drum to which the friction brake element is applied for the purpose of quickly stopping the machine. No satisfactory solution of this problem has heretofore been found.

The present invention solves this difficulty by providing an improved apparatus in the operation of which cooling liquid is supplied to the interior of the brake drum and excess liquid is withdrawn from the interior of the drum while the drum is. revolving. The improved apparatus also embodies means for admitting cooling liquid to the interior of the brake drum and means for automatically cutting off the supply of liquid when the brake is applied to stop the revolution of the drum.

These and other features of this invention will be described in the following specification and will be defined in the claims hereto annexed.

In the drawing I have illustrated one form of construction and arrangement embodying the principles of this invention, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing somuch of a centrifugal and its driving, braking and cooling apparatus as is necessaryto anunderstanding of this invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the control shaft as viewed from sectional plane 2-2 marked on Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view on horizontal section plane 3-3 of Fig. 1 to show the construction and arrangement of the revoluble brake drum secured to the vertical shaft ofthe centrifugal.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing on an enlarged I recess for the reception of the cooling liquid. The

scale that portion of the cooling liquid supply pipe containing the cut off valve and the regulating valve.

The centrifugal machine to which the brake cooling apparatus is applied in this case for pur- 5 poses of illustration, comprises the usual centrifugal basket I- secured to the lower end of a vertical gyratory shaft 2, that is suspended from the hanger 3 by means of the usual and well known ball and socket suspension joint. the centrifugal spindle or shaft carries a belt pulley 4 around which passes a quarter turn driving belt 5, which passes from the clutch driven pulley I on the main line drive shaft 8 at the back of the machine and which passes over an in- 15 termediate idler pulley 6, all in accordance with well known practice in the case of belt driven machines.

The belt pulley 4, as usual, is secured to apply the belt at the level of the center of gyration of 2 the basket- Below the driving pulley is secured a cylindrical brake drum 20, whose bottom edge is extended by means of an inwardly and upwardly turned flange 2| to form an annular channel or 25 interior spider 22, which supports the brake drum, is inclined inwardly and upwardly and bolted in this case securely to the bottom spider 4 of the driving pulley 4, as shown at 22, The outer edge portion of this spider 22 is provided at in"- tervals with arcuate openings 23 located above the liquid receiving recess at 2|, so that liquid flowing in to the upper portion of the pulley can escape and run down to the bottom recess or chamber of the pulley without being spilled. The upper edge of the pulley is provided with an annular inturned lip or flange 24, which serves to prevent the escape of the liquid over the top when the machine is in operation.

The cooling liquid is supplied by means of a liquid supply pipe 25, which is provided with a regulating valve 25" that can be set by hand to provide any desired flow of the liquid, and beyond the regulating valve 25 is located a self-closing spring actuated valve 25 whose stem extends upward into engagement with an overhead cam, which is secured to the centrifugal horizontal control shaft l I.

As the centrifugalcontrol mechanism forms no part of the invention herein claimed, only so much of the construction as may be needed to understand the present improvement will be described. As shown in Fig. 1, the horizontal control shaft ll extends alongside of the upper portion of the centrifugal in a fore and aft di- In this case 10 .Cil

rection perpendicular to the driving or line shaft 8 at the back of the machine. It carries a hand wheel ll at the front end and is supported in front and rear stationary aligned bearing members li Intermediate of its ends it carries a loose sleeve it, around which is coiled a helical spring M whose forward end is anchored to the stationary supporting hearing I I and whose rear end is secured to a circumferentially adjustable tensioning nut M mounted on the sleeve. To

the sleeve is also rigidly secured a disc I l having a projecting pin engaged by a shoulder on a cam-like disc II which is pinned to the shaft ll. Secured to the rear endof this shaft is a pinion'l2 intermeshing with a toothed arcuate sector member I3 forming part of a clutch shipper fork l3, which is fulcrumed at I? to shift to and fro a clutch controlling sleeve 9 slidably keyed to the line shaft 8. It will suffice to say that when the control shaft H is rotated clockwise it acts, through the shipper fork connection 13, to throw the clutch from the position shown in Fig. l, and places the centrifugally actuated clutch shoes in active position with respcct to the driving pulley 'l on line shaft 8. Thereverse or counterclockwise rotation of the shaft i l, induced by the helical spring II when the control shaft is released from its clutch engaging .position, causes the clutch to become inactive.

At the forward end of the sleeve ll there is .secured a lever l having link connections at and IS with an arm l'I-secured to a brake spindle l8, to which are secured toggles IS in such relation that movement of the brake spindle N in one direction contracts the friction shoes 29,

forming the braking element, upon the brake drum 20.

About midway of the. centrifugal control shaft I i is secured a cam 28 directly above the cut-off valve 25* so that, as is best shown in Fig. 4, clockwise rotation of the control shaft, which acts to release the brake and start the centrifugal by throwing in the clutch, serves to depress the valve 25 to open position and allow the cooled liquid to flow through supply pipe 25 to the interior of the pulley. The high speed of rotation of the centrifugal causes the liquid supply to build up in a ring-like wall against the inside "water is cut off'jdue 'rotativ'e movement of the control of the brake drum 20, as indicated by vertical dotted line in Fig. 1. At a convenient distance inward from the inside face of the brake drum is located the end of a discharge or drawofi' pipe 21, which is turned to face the direction of revolution of the brake drum and acts as a scoop to carry off the excess of water beyond a predetermined vertical line, so that not only is the liquid prevented from overflowing or escaping from the pulley otherwise than through the pipe, but since the water heated by contact with the drum becomes less dense than the cooler entering water and therefore moves to the inside, this off-take pipe 26 serves to remove the heated water and retain a supply ofcool water constantly against the inner face of the brake drum. Accordingly, the heat is continuously abstracted from the brake. drum while the machine is in operation and wnen the machine stops the liquid then collects in the receptacle of the drum, while at. the same time through the counterclockwise rotation of the cut-off valve 28 the supply of to the fact that the same releases the clutch and sets the brake acts to allow the spring applied to the valve to shaft I I that close the valve. The hand valve 25 permits complete regulation of the supply of cooling liquid.

The above arrangement not only provides a very effective and simple means for rapidly conducting away the heat developed by the friction of the brake element on the brake drum, but it provides a fool-proof arrangement preventing the spilling of the liquid into the basket by reason of cool liquid in intimate contact with the inner periphery of the rim during-a subsequent rotation of the pulley completely cools the rim preparatory to another braking operation.

It will be understoodof course, that the invention is not restricted to use on a vertical shaft nor to these special features of construction and operation that are of particular utility in the centrifugal field, the true measure of the invention being the spirit of the disclosure and the requirements of the claims but not the illustrative details mentioned hereinabove.

What I claim is:

1. A brake .drum adapted to be secured to a vertical shaft and provided with upper and lower liquid retaining flanges, and an intermediate connecting spider arranged to direct infiowing liquid toward the rim of the brake drum, a liquid supply pipe, means for regulating the rate of flow of liquid through the supply pipe to the interior of the drum, and a draw-off pipe having its in take end inclined opposite the direction of. rotation of the drum, said intake end being arranged at a distance from the inside face of thedrum rim to maintain an annular wall of liquid of predetermined thickness inside said drum while the drum is rotating at operable speed.

2. A centrifugal machine having a central I basket shaft provided with a driving pulley and a ing of the brake is alternatively efiected, and

means for supplying cooling'liquid into said trough, said liquid supplying means being responsive to movement of said control shaft to supply liquid while the driving means is active and to cut of! the liquid supply when the brake is active.

3. In a brake cooling device for centrifugals and the like the combination of a brakedrum rigidly connected with a. vertical rotary shaft and having at its lower end an interior annular liquid containing trough, a supply pipe for discharging cooling liquid into the interior of said drum, and an offtake pipe projecting inside said drum with its open intake end turned opposite the direction of rotation of the drum. at a predetermined distance from the inside face of the brake drum whereby the inside portion of the cooling liquid is continuously drawn off to prevent overflow of the liquid from the trough. 4;. In combination, a rotatable brake flange, a brake rim thereon, an annular trough formed on the inner periphery of said brake rim, a conduit adapted tointroduce a cooling fluid into said trough, and a second conduit extending into said trough and adapted to-remove fluid from said trough.

. 5. In a water for introducing water into said trough during rotation 01 said rim, "and means extending into said trough for removing all but a predetermined quantity 0-! water from said trough.

6. In combination, a rotatable brake flange, a brake rim thereon, an annular trough formed on the inner periphery of said brake rim, means to supply water to said trough whereby water may be displaced about the inner periphery, and means to remove water from said trough; said means being adapted to limit the quantity of water 'annularly displaced in said trough to an amount within the static capacity of said trough.

7. In combination, a rotatable brake flange, a brake rim thereon, an annular fluid channel formed within said rim and adapted to receive cooling fluid, means to supply fluid to said channel whereby fluid may be annularly displaced about said I channel by centrifugal iorce, and means for removing fluid from said channel faster than it is supplied by said first mentioned means comprising an inlet so positioned in said channel that thequantity oi fluid displaced in said channel is limited to an amount within the static capacity of said channel. I

8. A liquid cooled brake including a brake rim and means i'ormingwith said rim an inwardly iacing annular trough for retaining a body of liquid inside the rim while the same is rotating,-

means for drawing 01! excess liquid Iron a locacooled brake rim the combine.- tion of an annular water-receiving trough, means tion spaced, inwardly from said rim during rotation of the rim to maintain a predetermined volume 0! liquid therein, and means cooperating with the first recited means to form a receptacle receiving and preventing the spilling 0! said liquid while the rim is at rest.

9. A liquid cooled brake including a brake rim and means forming with said rim an inwardly facing annular trough i'or retaining a body of liquid insidethe rim while the same is rotated, means for supplying cooling liquid into said trough, means for drawing 01! excess liquid during rotation 01' the rim to maintain a predetermined volume of liquid therein, and means for intenupting the operation of said liquid supplying means before the rim is brought to rest.

' 10. A liquid cooled brake drum adapted for attachment to a vertical s'hait, said drum being provided with means at top and bottom defining which comprises revolving the rim, introducing cooling liquid inside the rim' at a regulated rate and forming an annular wall or liquid against the rim by centrifugal force, and withdrawing excess liquid irom said wall during revolution of the rim.

EUGENE ROBERTS.

DiSCLAIMER 2,096,341.Eugene Roberts, Hastings, N. Y, BRAKE Coonmo ron CENTRIFUGALB m 'rnn LIKE. Patent dated October 19, 1937. Disclaimer filed May 24, 1939, by the assigneo, The Western States Machine Company.

enters this disclaimer to claims 4 flicial Gazette, June 20, 1939.]

, 5, and 11 in said specification.

trough, and a second conduit extending into said trough and adapted to-remove fluid from said trough.

. 5. In a water for introducing water into said trough during rotation 01 said rim, "and means extending into said trough for removing all but a predetermined quantity 0-! water from said trough.

6. In combination, a rotatable brake flange, a brake rim thereon, an annular trough formed on the inner periphery of said brake rim, means to supply water to said trough whereby water may be displaced about the inner periphery, and means to remove water from said trough; said means being adapted to limit the quantity of water 'annularly displaced in said trough to an amount within the static capacity of said trough.

7. In combination, a rotatable brake flange, a brake rim thereon, an annular fluid channel formed within said rim and adapted to receive cooling fluid, means to supply fluid to said channel whereby fluid may be annularly displaced about said I channel by centrifugal iorce, and means for removing fluid from said channel faster than it is supplied by said first mentioned means comprising an inlet so positioned in said channel that thequantity oi fluid displaced in said channel is limited to an amount within the static capacity of said channel. I

8. A liquid cooled brake including a brake rim and means i'ormingwith said rim an inwardly iacing annular trough for retaining a body of liquid inside the rim while the same is rotating,-

means for drawing 01! excess liquid Iron a locacooled brake rim the combine.- tion of an annular water-receiving trough, means tion spaced, inwardly from said rim during rotation of the rim to maintain a predetermined volume 0! liquid therein, and means cooperating with the first recited means to form a receptacle receiving and preventing the spilling 0! said liquid while the rim is at rest.

9. A liquid cooled brake including a brake rim and means forming with said rim an inwardly facing annular trough i'or retaining a body of liquid insidethe rim while the same is rotated, means for supplying cooling liquid into said trough, means for drawing 01! excess liquid during rotation 01' the rim to maintain a predetermined volume of liquid therein, and means for intenupting the operation of said liquid supplying means before the rim is brought to rest.

' 10. A liquid cooled brake drum adapted for attachment to a vertical s'hait, said drum being provided with means at top and bottom defining which comprises revolving the rim, introducing cooling liquid inside the rim' at a regulated rate and forming an annular wall or liquid against the rim by centrifugal force, and withdrawing excess liquid irom said wall during revolution of the rim.

EUGENE ROBERTS.

DiSCLAIMER 2,096,341.Eugene Roberts, Hastings, N. Y, BRAKE Coonmo ron CENTRIFUGALB m 'rnn LIKE. Patent dated October 19, 1937. Disclaimer filed May 24, 1939, by the assigneo, The Western States Machine Company.

enters this disclaimer to claims 4 flicial Gazette, June 20, 1939.]

, 5, and 11 in said specification. 

